Poilievre promises to cut three taxes as soon as he becomes PM
By
UMENDRA SINGH: Federal Opposition and Conservative Party Leader, Pierre Poilievre, promised to cut at least three taxes immediately he becomes Prime Minister.
At a press conference in Surrey, he promised to axe the Carbon Tax, remove GST from new home sales and reverse the Capital Gains Tax increases voted in by Liberals and NDP.
The conservative leader said he will stand up to incoming American
President Donald Trump and will hit back with counter tariffs if Trump puts tariffs on Canadian exports.
“And we will emphasize that we are neighbors and very good friends –but we are separate and independent and sovereign,” he said. He promised to talk to American businesses and let them know that Canada is good for business but increasing tariffs on Canadian goods will just lead to higher cost of living in USA.
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South Asian drug smuggler for Canadian exOlympian could flee if granted bail, prosecutors say
U.S. prosecutors are warning that a Torontoarea man accused of co-ordinating millions of dollars' worth of cocaine shipments — on behalf of a murderous drug ring allegedly run by former Olympian Ryan Wedding — has access to a criminal network in Dubai and could flee if he's released on bail.
Hardeep Ratte appeared in a Toronto courtroom on Monday as he seeks bail while awaiting U.S. extradition
proceedings. He's facing drug trafficking charges in California, amid allegations he acted as Wedding's main coordinator for smuggling cocaine shipments from Los Angeles to Canada.
Ratte, who is from Brampton, Ont., was arrested in October as U.S. authorities named 10 Canadians sought as accomplices in what prosecutors described as Wedding's transnational criminal enterprise.
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When Mandeep Singh Maan’s coworkers learned of his $2 million BC/49 lottery win, they congratulated the Surrey short-haul trucker on his good fortune. But the four workmates at the freight and warehousing company “soon became suspicious,” according to the judgment in a lawsuit over the winnings. Continued on Page 6...
India's latest diplomatic outreach to Afghanistan's Taliban government signals a marked shift in how it sees the geopolitical reality in the region. This comes more than three years after India suffered a major strategic and diplomatic blow when Kabul fell to the Taliban. Two decades of investment in Afghanistan's democracy in military training, scholarships and landmark projects like building its new parliament - were swiftly undone. Continued on Page 14...
Higher taxes will hammer British Columbians in 2025
By Carson Binda, B.C. director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation: While we’re all wishing each other a happy New Year, our politicians are planning to wring even more out of our wallets in 2025. Premier David Eby and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are going to make life more expensive by hiking taxes in 2025. Higher payroll taxes (EI and CPP) are going to leave you with a less powerful paycheque and higher carbon taxes are going to make life more expensive.
Instead of an endlessly increasing tax burden, politicians should be cutting taxes to help British Columbians struggling to make ends meet. Government should focus on finding savings by cutting wasteful spending like cost overruns on
capital projects and a bloated bureaucracy to save taxpayers money. Federally, Trudeau is hiking payroll taxes on Canadians who make more than $64,000. If a worker makes $81,000 or more, they will pay a total of $5,507 in federal payroll taxes, while their employer is also forced to pay $5,938.
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A 29-year-old Surrey resident is facing several charges relating to a serious crash in North Delta more than a year ago.
On Oct. 25, 2023 at about 12:30 a.m., a westbound Acura RSX was involved in a singlecar collision in the 11000-block of Kittson Parkway.
Police say the car left the road, crashing into trees in Watershed Park and trapping two passengers in the back seat who required extrication by Delta firefighters.
The driver and front passenger allegedly fled from the scene prior to emergency responders attending the scene.
As a result of the collision, one of the trapped passengers is now quadriplegic, and the other received significant injuries including vertebrae
and pelvic fractures.
After an extensive investigation, charges relating to the crash were sworn against Jushan Jordan Virk on Nov. 25, 2024 and he was arrested and released pending trial in December.
Charges against Virk were announced in a Delta Police Department-issued press release on Jan. 15, 2025.
He is facing four counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm — two specifically for having a blood alcohol level above .08 — and two counts of failing to remain at the scene of a collision causing bodily harm.
Virk's first court court appearance is scheduled for March 10 at Surrey Provincial Court.
BC Conservative Honveer Randhawa asks court to overturn NDP win in Surrey-Guildford
The challenger to the B.C. New Democrat in October’s provincial election has filed a court petition asking to have Garry Begg’s election victory in the Surrey-Guildford riding declared invalid.
B.C. Conservative Honveer Singh Randhawa alleges that non-residents of the riding appear to have voted; that several people cast multiple ballots using similar, though not identical, names; and, most glaringly, that a group of residents at a care home cast votes by mail-in ballot despite some not speaking English or even knowing an election was being held.
“I was not aware that the provincial election was occurring,” said Argyll Lodge resident Parminder Singh Bains in an affidavit accompanying the petition, which was translated for Singh from Punjabi. “I did not look into any of the parties or their policies.
Catalan Grefiel were cast, and another on the same street where votes by Inder Jit Singh and Inderjit Tonny Singh were tallied.
The most serious alleged irregularities revolve around Argyll Lodge, a residence for people, including seniors, with serious and persistent mental illness. The court documents allege 21 mail-in votes were cast by residents of the lodge, which has a 25-bed capacity.
“I was rushed into marking the ballot, I do not know who I have voted for. … I marked the ballot where they pointed it and I was led to believe that I had no choice but to mark the ballot, otherwise I feared that I would be kicked out of the house.”
Begg received 8,947 votes to Randhawa’s 8,925 in the Oct. 19 election, a 22-vote victory after a recount confirming the NDP win.
According to the petition, volunteers for Randhawa knocked on doors at several homes in the riding and spoke to residents who said people whose votes were listed for that address did not live there, though some of the alleged non-resident voters owned the properties that others were renting.
Other allegations are that some voters voted twice using the same address but slightly different names — such as a home on Roxburgh Road where votes by Peter Grefiel and Peter
There is a troubling pattern of "no shows" among international students holding Canadian study permits, with nearly 50,000 students failing to attend their college or university during a two-month period in spring 2024, according to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) data.
The figures, obtained by The Globe and Mail, revealed that 6.9% of international students tracked by IRCC were reported as "no shows" at their colleges and universities. This development has sparked concerns about the potential misuse of student visas and cross-border security issues.
The data comes from the International Student Compliance Regime, a monitoring system implemented in 2014 to identify fraudulent student applications and questionable educational institutions. Under this system, post-secondary institutions must report twice a year on international student attendance and enrollment status.
Analysis of March and April 2024 compliance reports covering students from 144 countries shows striking variations in noncompliance rates.
Rwanda recorded the highest rate at 48.1%, representing 802 missing students, while the Philippines showed the lowest at 2.2% or 688 students.
China and Iran reported rates of 6.4% and 11.6%, respectively. India, which sends the largest number of international students to Canada, had almost 20,000 "no-shows, " which is approximately 5.4%
Two of those living there told Randhawa’s volunteers they can’t read or write in English and don’t know what a mail-in ballot is.
Both said that they didn’t know an election was being held and had never requested a mail-in ballot. They say that on Oct. 19, a staff member told them to mark an ‘X’ in a box under rushed circumstances and that they don’t know who they voted for.
Volunteers said they visited the lodge and encountered residents who had difficulty with basic conversation or were unresponsive. Because of their communication challenges, Randhawa alleges it is likely they were subject to “undue influence or outright ballot manipulation.”
When Randhawa first made his allegations public, Argyll Lodge manager Baljit Kandola called them “baffling” and “absurd,” and said Elections B.C. has sent her business mail-in ballots for its residents every election cycle for the past 30 years. However, in a statement last week, Elections B.C. said that voters must individually request ballot packages.
During the recount of the close result, Randhawa said he was stonewalled by Elections B.C. when he requested voter participation lists and counts of mail-in votes, assisted telephone votes and special and absentee ballots. Election officials told Randhawa the lists would not be made available until the recount was finished.
of the country's total student population.
This troubling data has drawn particular attention as Indian law enforcement investigates possible connections between Canadian colleges and universities allegedly involved in illegal border crossings into the United States.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has acknowledged these concerns and is investigating potential smuggling networks exploiting student visas for illegal border crossings. The situation appears even more serious when considering that educational institutions failed to report the status of an additional 23,514 international students, representing 3.3% of those in IRCC records.
Combined with confirmed "no shows," this means that at least 10% of student visa holders cannot be accounted for in the system.
Unlike some other countries, Canada does not require international students to pay tuition fees before arriving, potentially making the system more vulnerable to abuse by those using student visas for non-academic reasons.
Trump tariffs could cost BC's economy almost $70B in 3 years, government says
B.C.’s finance minister says president-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs would have devastating effects on the province’s economy and growth. Brenda Bailey said at a press conference on Thursday that tariffs would be “unprecedented in modern times.”
She said there is still uncertainty around the scope and amount of potential tariffs but B.C. has prepared a high-level assessment of potential impacts with the assumption that the tariffs remain in place for Trump’s term and that Canada retaliates in kind. Wood, pulp and paper, metallic minerals and energy products are all exported to the United States, Bailey added. “U.S. remains our largest trading partner.” If the tariffs are put in place, it would mean a loss of $69 billion for B.C.’s economy by 2028, Bailey said. It would mean 124,000 fewer jobs by 2028. Investment would decline, with corporate profits falling by billions in 2025 and 2026, Bailey said.
The unemployment rate would increase to 6.7 per cent in 2025 and could increase to 7.1 per cent in 2026. He said in times of war — and he considers this an economic war — people must come together and support each other.
“In 2019, the Bank of Canada estimated the impacts of a 25 per cent tariff. National Bank recently reported that the Bank of Canada’s estimate of the Canadian GDP impact “would exceed that of any previous recession, barring the temporary setback at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to a government release.
Eby added that he has directed his cabinet ministers to gear up to face whatever Trump’s proposed tariffs throw at them. On Wednesday, Eby joined Canada’s other premiers for a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss how they will respond to the tariffs if implemented. Most of them said all options should be on the table for economic retaliation.
Trump’s Canadian trade ‘subsidy’ claims false, new report says
A new report says the U.S. benefits at least as much from trade with Canada as Canada benefits.
The report by economist Jim Stanford at the Centre for Future Work says claims by incoming U.S. president Donald Trump that the bilateral merchandise trade deficit constitutes a “subsidy” are false. He says Canada is the world’s largest market for U.S. exports and that the U.S. enjoys a large surplus in services trade with Canada, offsetting much of the deficit in merchandise.
The report also says the U.S. enjoys a net surplus on investment income from Canada.
It notes that 76 per cent of Canadian exports to the U.S. are used as inputs by U.S. businesses in their own production – more than with other trading partners.
Trump has threatened to implement 25 per cent tariffs on U.S. imports from Canada and Mexico once he is sworn in as president unless the two countries stop drugs and people from illegally crossing their borders into the U.S.
‘Canada is not for sale’: Ford says Canada must send clear message to Trump
Doug Ford says Canadians must remain united and stand up to President-elect Donald Trump’s threats of 25 per cent tariffs on Canada.
U.S. tariffs – shop ‘Made in Canada’ products.
Following a meeting of the premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa on Wednesday, Ford said Canada needs to send a strong message regarding any U.S. imposed tariffs.
“Things are going to change in a week when the inauguration of President Trump happens and if he moves forward with these tariffs there’s never been a time that’s been more important for Canadians to be united, to stand up and make sure that our voice is heard,” he said. “And the retaliatory tariffs need to be hard, we have to send a message when someone comes up and tries to destroy our economy it will be devastating for Canadians.”
While there was no direct talk Wednesday of what kind of measures Canada would take in response to any U.S. tariffs, Ford has previously threatened to cut off energy supplies to U.S. states. There has also been talk of cutting off oil supplies but that has been met with resistance from the premiers of Quebec and Alberta.
Canada is the top supplier of foreign oil to the U.S., accounting for about one-fifth of its oil supply.
Ford also had a message for Canadian consumers and retailers ahead of any potential
“This is an opportunity for Canadians to stand up and be proud, even when it comes down to going into your local retailer, look at the back of the label. If it doesn’t say ‘Made in Canada’ pick the can beside it that does say ‘Made in Canada,’ said Ford.
“If we get hit by a tariff and our costs go up, I’d rather pay a few more cents to go to a Canadian supplier, someone that’s producing right here in Canada. We should never be reliant on anyone, we’re the greatest country in the world, we’re an economic powerhouse, there’s nothing that we cannot build collectively across our great country.”
Metro Vancouver is in for some frosty weather
Don’t pack away your tuques just yet, Metro Vancouver.
Although it has been a warmer-than-normal winter so far, meteorologists say nighttime lows will dip below zero starting Thursday night.
In a posting on the Environment and Climate Change Canada website on Wednesday, meteorologists say an Arctic air mass will bring below-seasonal temperatures to Metro from Friday to at least next Wednesday.
The note says that could affect vulnerable populations and agricultural vegetation. Lisa Erven, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, said daytime highs in Metro Vancouver haven’t dropped below 5C yet this winter. The coming cold front will drop those daytime highs to around zero, with overnight lows of -3 to -5.
“As we move into Friday, and certainly into the weekend, we do have an air mass coming down from the north. It’s not as robust of an Arctic front as we have seen in previous years, but it is a cooler air mass than normal, and what that
will do is drop both our daytime highs and our overnight lows to about 5C below normal,” said Erven on Wednesday. The forecast also calls for mostly sunny weather into next week with no precipitation.
While there’s no snow expected, Erven said with the colder weather persisting into next week, any storm that moved in from the north could bring flurries. “We will be watching the weather pattern to see if any storms do come in off the Pacific and from what direction they approach. If they come down from the northwest, then they’re going to be colder storms and there’s a high likelihood for snow even down to lower elevations,” said Erven. Erven said it’s unlikely this cold weather will trigger a Arctic air warning but it won’t be what Metro Vancouver residents have experienced. December’s average temperature measured at the Vancouver airport was 5.9 — two degrees warmer than the 30 year average from 1991 to 2020. Temperatures hit a high of 12.9 at one point in December, a few degrees below a temperature extreme of 14.9 C set on Dec. 26, 1980.
Rule change targets families of foreign workers and
students in Canada
The federal government has announced new restrictions on work permits for family members of foreign workers and international students in Canada.
Starting Jan. 21, only the spouses of certain international students and foreign workers will be eligible for a Canadian open work permit.
Work permits will only be authorized for spouses of international students who are enrolled in a doctoral program, a master’s program that is 16 months or longer, or select professional and eligible programs such as nursing, pharmacy and engineering degrees.
Permits will also only be available to spouses of foreign workers who are employed in management roles and jobs that usually require a university degree, such as financial advisers and software engineers. Other occupations facing labour shortages or linked to government priorities – such as construction, health care and education – may also be eligible. Workers must have at least 16 months remaining on their permit at the time their spouse applies.
An open work permit allows a foreign national to take any job in Canada without restrictions.
“The Government of Canada is continuing to strengthen the integrity and quality of our temporary resident programs while supporting the country’s economic goals and labour market needs,” a Jan. 14 announcement from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada explains.
Open work permits that were approved under previous rules will remain valid. Workers covered by free-trade agreements or who are becoming permanent residents are also not affected. Family members of foreign workers and students impacted by the new rules may still be eligible for Canada’s other temporary work permit programs.
Open work permits were previously available to spouses and common-law partners of international students, and the spouses, common-law partners and dependent children of foreign workers. Dependent children are no longer eligible.
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Higher taxes will hammer British Columbians in 2025
Payroll, carbon and digital taxes will leave people struggling to keep up
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Those workers will pay $403 more in payroll taxes in 2025 compared to 2024. That extra $403 being taken by the government could pay for a few weeks of groceries for most B.C. families. Meantime, the federal government is also punishing investors, savers and small-business owners by increasing capital gains taxes. The Trudeau government hiked capital gains taxes in its last budget. That tax hike took effect on June 25, 2024, and will cost taxpayers $3.4 billion in 202526. Economists like Jake Mintz estimate the capital gains tax hike will cause employment to plummet by 414,000 jobs, and Canada’s GDP will fall by almost $90 billion because of the tax hike. The feds also announced a new digital streaming tax in the summer. The new streaming tax forces online streaming companies to pay five per cent of their Canadian revenues to the government. Industry associations and experts warn that the new streaming tax will make life more expensive by increasing bills for streaming services.
Ottawa’s new digital services tax is meant to target online marketplaces and social media sites that make revenue from online advertising. In reality, the costs are going to be passed on to consumers who are looking for a good deal on Amazon, Uber or Facebook Marketplace. If all that drives you to drink, Trudeau is hiking taxes on that, too. Taxes on beer, wine and spirits are going up by two per cent on April 1, 2025. Taxes already account for about half the price you pay for alcoholic beverages. That means for every beer or bottle of wine you buy, you’re also buying one for the government.
Not to be outdone by the feds, Eby is also hiking taxes on British Columbians in the new year.
Eby is raising the carbon tax on April 1. Right now, the provincial carbon tax costs 17.6 cents per litre, but it’s going up to about 21 cents per litre in the new year. The carbon tax will cost about $14 per minivan fill-up and add about $415 to the average B.C. households’ home heating bills.
The B.C. government’s new home flipping tax kicked in on Jan. 1. British Columbians who sell a home after owning it for less than 730 days will pay taxes on any income made from selling the property. All of those tax hikes are going to make life more expensive for normal British Columbians.
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The five of them had regularly bought lottery tickets together in 2021 and 2022, but Maan failed to tell them of his own windfall in August 2022. They only found out about it from the official B.C. Lottery announcement, the judgment said. Two weeks later, they filed a lawsuit in B.C. Supreme Court.
Balvinder Kaur Nagar, Sukhjinder Singh Sidhu, Binipal Singh Sanghera and Jeevan Pedan wanted a judge to rule that as members of the office lottery pool with Maan, they were each entitled to a fifth of the winnings.
“I’m so relieved right now,” said Maan by phone on Monday. “The reputation of my family was on the line.”
Maan said neither his win in the lottery or in the court changed his relationship with the other four because he says they were never friends, they just “work for the same company.” He continues to work for the same company, he says, because “I
didn’t want to run away like a loser or a liar.”
The five employees told court they pooled their money to buy lottery tickets in 2021 and 2022 and the person who purchased the tickets changed. Frequently, but not always, Maan or Sidhu bought the tickets, according to the judgment. But they disagreed how often they bought tickets as a group, whether the pool was always made up of the same five people, which tickets they bought or whether photos of tickets they bought were sent to every buyer, it said. There was no formal agreement or purchase records, wrote the judge. Maan told court he was a prolific lottery player on his own and spent about $400 a month on tickets. Experts have long advised people buying lottery tickets as a group to keep good records and have written rules, including who is in the group and what happens when a person fails to contribute for a draw, and distribute photos or copies of tickets to group members of all tickets bought for the group.
The total value of building permits issued in B.C. saw a double-digit drop in November 2024, consistent with industry reports that construction has been slowing in the province due to higher input costs and reduced buyer demand.
Statistics Canada (StatCan) reported Jan. 10 that monthly, seasonally-adjusted building permit values fell 13.4 per cent in B.C. in November.
This compares to a 3.6-percent decline in Alberta, a nineper-cent decline in Ontario and a 5.9-per-cent decline countrywide. Residential and non-residential building
permit values in B.C. totalled $1.55 billion in November compared with $1.79 billion the previous month.
This 13.4-per-cent decrease was led by B.C.’s residential sector, which saw building permit values fall 30 per cent from $1.25 billion in October to $868 million in November. Meanwhile, non-residential values saw an increase from $547 million in October to $686 million in November. The non-residential category includes industrial, commercial, institutional and governmental building projects.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he will not run again in his Montreal riding in the next general election.
The news comes just over a week after Trudeau announced he will step down as leader of the Liberal party as soon as a new leader is elected.
Trudeau was first elected in 2008 for the Montreal riding of Papineau in a narrow victory over the Bloc Québécois.
He led the Liberals to victory seven years later and has been prime minister now for more than nine years. The Liberals will choose a new leader to replace Trudeau after a national leadership race on March 9.
Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney is expected to formally enter the race to replace Trudeau Thursday, with former finance
few days later.
minister Chrystia Freeland expected to follow a
Major Vancouver landowners aiming to build higher after view-protection policies relaxed
Major property owners in Vancouver are revising their plans to see how much taller they can build after city council relaxed viewprotection policies last year.
This doesn’t mean the sky’s the limit, however, and some observers say the city should push developers to spend more time and money considering what they will give back to the community in return for these lucrative height and density accommodations, such as adding public parks or plazas.
Last July, Vancouver’s ABC-majority council approved changes to the city’s view-protection policies, updating some view corridors and removing others altogether, with the stated aim of increasing development potential.
Earlier this month, owners of two major sites in northeast False Creek said they plan to build more than previously envisioned because of the view corridor changes.
Concord Pacific’s 12-tower project was originally going to include around 3,500 homes in buildings of up to 41 storeys, but the changes mean it now can build towers as high as 65 storeys
and as many as 5,000 homes. Northchild, the new owner of the Plaza Of Nations site, immediately next to Concord’s project, said it will also be creating a new design in light of the changes.
Others are following suit.
“It’s absolutely true and very obvious that every freaking developer and landowner is trying to do that,” said James Cheng, the Vancouver architect who helped shape the city’s skyline and has designed about 50 downtown towers since opening his firm in 1978.
One project undergoing a re-think is the redevelopment of the former Army & Navy department store property. In 2023, Bosa Properties CEO Colin Bosa told Postmedia they had initially envisioned a 32-storey tower, but that view protection rules cut that down to 17 storeys.
Reached this week, Dan Cupa, Bosa Properties’ senior vice-president of residential, said the developer is now working with Army & Navy CEO Jacqui Cohen and city staff on a new plan “that delivers additional secured rental housing and commerce space, enabled by the view protection policy changes.”
Mark Carney enters Liberal leadership race, vows to ‘build our economy’
Mark Carney announced his bid to lead the Liberal Party of Canada Thursday, promising a change from “politics as usual” to rebuild the economy in a way that works better for average Canadians.
“I’m here to ask for your support. I’m here to earn your trust to lead that fight,” Carney told a crowd of supporters in Edmonton.
“I’m back home in Edmonton to declare my candidacy for leader of the Liberal Party and prime minister of Canada.” The former central banker and economist is the highest-profile candidate so far in the race to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who announced he intends to resign earlier this month. Carney said his past experience leading the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England is proof of his economic bonafides, which he said will be his primary focus
if he becomes prime minister.
Carney, who has advised Trudeau’s government on the economy, said the prime minister and his government had “let their attention wander from the economy too often.”
“The system is not working as it should, and it’s not working as it could,” he said. He pointed to stagnant wages and high taxes for the middle class, and an imbalance between government spending and investment.
Those problems would still exist without U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s threat of tariffs on Canadian goods, he added, but warned they will do further damage. Nova Scotia MP Jaime Battiste and Energy and Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson have said they are also contemplating a run. Battiste would be the first Indigenous prime minister were he to run and win the leadership.
BC must learn to ‘co-exist’ with wildfires as study outlines possible dire future
A new study predicts a dire future for B.C.’s wildfire situation unless major changes are made.
“In 2024, more than a million hectares burned, and we hardly spoke about it, because it seems to become the new normal, the new reality that we live with,” Lori Daniels, one of the authors and a professor of Forest and Conservation Sciences at the University of British Columbia said.
The study by UBC researchers says urgent change is needed in order for British Columbians to co-exist with wildfires.
The study also says homeowners can protect themselves from wildfires by retrofitting their homes with less-flammable materials such as fireresistant roofing and making sure there is a buffer zone free of large vegetation around their home.
PICS Job Fair
PICS is pleased to announce that the PICS Mega Job Fair Vancouver 2025 will be on Thursday February 6, 2025, at the Roundhouse Arts and Recreation Centre in Yaletown.
As a not-for-profit organization, we are proud to provide Employment Services, Settlement Services, Senior Housing, Community Services and many other programs throughout the Lower Mainland.
The PICS Mega Job Fair is the flagship event for our Employment Services Programs.
It gives job seekers the opportunity to meet employers on a one-to–one basis and discover what is available in the Labour Market in a proactive way. The job fair also gives the opportunity for
people to explore many resources available from community service providers and educational institutions. No matter whether you are a new immigrant looking for your first job, someone who is just breaking into the Labour Market, or looking to advance your career and find a new opportunity –the PICS Mega Job FairVancouver is for everyone. We invite all to come shop the Fair! – Your dream job awaits you! Check us out at: www.megajobfair.ca As a not-for-profit organization, we would appreciate your assistance by listing our event in your community events profiles. Attached is a poster of our event with all the pertinent information.
If you require any other information, please contact at 604-596-7722.
APPLIANCES REPAIR SERVICE
2 sentenced for BC home invasion where victim was stabbed, burned
Two men involved in a home invasion in Abbotsford in June 2023 were sentenced Monday (Jan. 13) after pleading guilty on what was supposed to be the first day of their trial. Matthew Roy and Alexander Sladeczeck both pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and assault with a weapon. Roy, 34, was sentenced to six years, but with credit for time served, he has about three years and eight months left to serve.
Crown lawyer Beverley Lane read a brief synopsis of the incident that led to the pair being charged. She said that on the afternoon of June 23, 2023, Roy and Sladeczeck entered an apartment unit in the 33900 block of George Ferguson Way that was occupied by a man and his girlfriend.
Lane said Roy and Sladeczeck began beating the man with a metal object, and Sladeczeck stabbed him twice.
No jail time for last of 5 men charged in major Metro Vancouver gun trafficking bust
Nearly two years after police in B.C. broke up what they called a major gun trafficking operation, all five men caught in the bust have been sentenced.
The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) seized a cache of handguns, a rifle, prohibited gun parts, ammunition, drugs and money in raids in a 2023 operation.
Sladeczeck was sentenced to four years, but was given three months’ credit for time already served. They each faced three more charges – unlawful confinement, break-and-enter and robbery – but those were stayed during proceedings in B.C Supreme Court in Abbotsford. The 15-day jury trial was scheduled to start Monday morning when lawyers for Roy and Sladeczeck informed the court that their clients would instead be changing their pleas on two of the five charges.
They told the victim to take a shower to wash off the blood, and afterwards Roy and Sladeczeck beat him further “with a variety of household objects, including frying pans, cups, various dishes,” Lane said. “Mr. Roy took a pair of needlenose pliers and basically put it on (the victim’s) nose and twisted his nose with it,” she said.
The two offenders also heated up some kitchen utensils on the stove and placed them on the victim’s back, neck and leg, Lane said.
Vancouver cops being investigated for neglect of duty in Chelsea Poorman disappearance
The New Westminster Police Department is investigating several Vancouver officers for potential neglect of duty over their response to the disappearance of Chelsea Poorman, who was found dead outside an abandoned mansion nearly two years after she was reported missing.
The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner (OPCC) said confidentiality provisions in the Police Act prohibit disclosure of details about the investigation, but confirmed Thursday an investigation is underway. Poorman, a 24-year-old Cree woman originally from Saskatchewan, went
missing in September 2020. Her skeletal remains were found behind a vacant mansion in the wealthy Shaughnessy neighbourhood 20 months later. At the time of the discovery, Vancouver police declared her death “not suspicious” and said it appeared her body had been there since shortly after she disappeared. Poorman’s family said they were frustrated with the initial VPD response into the missing person case and the lack of a timely public appeal, and expressed anger that they weren’t given more details about the circumstances surrounding her death.
“Early results indicate that the firearms have been sourced both domestically and internationally,” the CFSEU said in a media release at the time. Police arrested five men, all of whom have now been sentenced.
The last of the five, Derek Johnston, 35, appeared in Surrey Provincial Court on Wednesday, where he pleaded guilty to one
firearms-related charge. He had initially been charged with three trafficking offences.
Johnston was caught in an undercover operation in 2023 where he sold a rifle and ammunition for $3,500 to an undercover officer at Colossus Langley.
Johnston was handed a two-year conditional sentence, which will be served under house arrest, followed by one year of probation. In handing down the sentence, the judge noted Johnston had no prior criminal record, was working and had taken steps to address his substance abuse.
The other four men, who ranged in age from 24 to 39, have been handed a range of sentences. Police later raided his home and properties in six Metro Vancouver municipalities.
South Asian man charged in North Delta crash that seriously injured two
A 29-year-old Surrey resident is facing several charges relating to a serious crash in North Delta more than a year ago.
On Oct. 25, 2023 at about 12:30 a.m., a westbound Acura RSX was involved in a singlecar collision in the 11000-block of Kittson Parkway.
Police say the car left the road, crashing into trees in Watershed Park and trapping two passengers in the back seat who required extrication by Delta firefighters.
The driver and front passenger allegedly fled from the scene prior to emergency responders attending the scene.
As a result of the collision, one of the trapped passengers is now quadriplegic, and the other received significant injuries including vertebrae
and pelvic fractures.
After an extensive investigation, charges relating to the crash were sworn against Jushan Jordan Virk on Nov. 25, 2024 and he was arrested and released pending trial in December.
Charges against Virk were announced in a Delta Police Department-issued press release on Jan. 15, 2025. He is facing four counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm — two specifically for having a blood alcohol level above .08 — and two counts of failing to remain at the scene of a collision causing bodily harm.
Virk's first court court appearance is scheduled for March 10 at Surrey Provincial Court.
Alleged drug smuggler
for Canadian ex-Olympian could flee if granted bail, prosecutors say
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The group allegedly used transport trucks to move vast quantities of Colombian cocaine through North America.
Ratte, 46, wore a grey Roots Canada T-shirt in the prisoner box on Monday morning and waved at family members seated near the back of the courtroom. Six of his relatives each pledged $200,000 for Ratte to be granted bail and released on house arrest as he awaits his extradition hearing.
"Through his nephew," U.S. prosecutors wrote, "Ratte has access to a sophisticated organized crime network in Dubai from whom he could easily seek protection if charged in this case, but not detained."
Prosecutors allege that between January and August 2024, Ratte orchestrated shipments of more than 650 kilograms of cocaine for Wedding's network, with a street value in Los
Angeles of between $8.45 million and $9.1 million US. Authorities said Ratte was found to have made frequent trips to Mexico, where investigators suspect Wedding may be hiding. "Ratte's criminal conduct…. makes him a danger to the community," wrote Los Angelesbased assistant U.S. attorneys Maria Jhai and Lyndsi Allsop.
According to court filings, RCMP recorded a meeting in Toronto on Feb. 22, 2024, involving Ratte, his nephew Singh and a co-operating witness who was in direct contact with Wedding and his "second-in-command," Andrew Clark. U.S. prosecutors allege that at the February meeting, Ratte agreed to move cocaine for Wedding at a rate of $220,000 Cdn per shipment.
Ratte's lawyer Ravin Pillay underlined his client is presumed innocent and questioned whether the video of the in-person meeting would be clear enough to identify Ratte.
Pierre Poilievre promises to cut three taxes as soon as he becomes PM
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He believes that Trump can smell the weak leadership of the Liberals and that is why he is using his threats against Canada. He blamed Liberals and NDP for the problem.
"By blocking pipelines and LNG plants in Canada, the Liberals have forced Canadians to sell almost all of our energy to the United States, giving President Trump massive leverage in making these tariff threats," he said, saying the Americans were profiting by buying Canadian oil and gas on the cheap and re-selling the same to Europeans to make profit.
Poilievre went on to say that if he was prime minister, he would have approved pipelines like Northern Gateway and Energy East, as well as fast-track approvals for LNG plants — giving Canada more export options.
He explained he would repealing the federal government's environmental Impact Assessment Act and approving "any other private-sector unsubsidized investments to expand our ability to sell our energy without going through the Americans."
He also promised to be tough on crime, shutting down consumption sites and not allowing repeat offenders to be freed the next day as is the case now.
“I will carry out the single biggest crackdown on crime ever in Canada,” he promised, also shutting down consumption sites.
There will be no automatic release for criminals to get out again and again. Right now they have to arrest the same person 150 times a year in Vancouver,”
The Vancouver Police arrested same 40 offenders 6,000 times in a year.
“This is because the NDP Liberal laws have allowed these people to be released,” he said and promises to being in anew law that will prohibit bail, parole or even house arrest and definitely not
allow repeat offenders to be released
He thanked the Chinese Canadian community in Richmond for standing up to stop “drug dens” “Jagmeet Singh and Justin Trudeau with their laws have allowed dangerous repeat offenders to be released as soon as they are arrested,” Poilievre said.
He said that NDP and Liberal policies have led to repeat offenders being arrested and released continuously in a cycle.
Poilievre said he wants to know why PM Justin Trudeau is hiding the list of names of people who allegedly were involved in helping foreign countries interfere in Canada’s election. It is probably because the Liberals benefited from that interference.
As Prime Minister, I will give that list to a judge to look at and release ethe names to the public along with the evidence against each of those names. What’s there to hide,” he asked.
He further said that he will work with countries like India to improve relations but Canada will always maintain its independence and stay strong. Poilievre also promised to make it easier to build homes in Canada by removing red tape, pressuring provinces and cities tp streamline processes and permits and freeing up land for house building.
He said Trudeau has not done anything for the Sikhs and other minority communities excepting talking.
“But he has not done much for Sikhs,” he said. He also promised a “blue seal” system for foreign trained and educated professionals – such as doctors, nurses, engineers, etc., so that these foreign professionals will only be required to take and pass an exam to prove their proficiency in their profession and be allowed to work here. Taking this blue seal exam/test should only take a few weeks or months after arriving in Canadas, he promised.
TransLink reveals plan for rapid bus transit stations in Surrey, Maple Ridge, Langley
TransLink has revealed the future locations of new bus rapid transit stations in Surrey, Maple Ridge, and Langley.
Transit riders are also being asked for their feedback on initial designs of the bus rapid transit (BRT) stations, which include cover from weather and real-time information displays, as TransLink moves forward with planning the two new routes.
BRT refers to bus service that uses dedicated bus lanes and receives signal priority at intersections. It is different from TransLink’s RapidBus service, which refers to six express bus routes in Metro Vancouver that have limited stops and operate in both bus lanes, especially queue-jumping lanes at intersection, and regular traffic lanes.
The King George Boulevard BRT route will stop at 12 new stations in Surrey, while the Langley-
Haney Place route will service 13 new stations in Maple Ridge and Langley. Locations for the future stations were chosen based on ease of connection to other transit hubs such as Surrey Central, King George and the upcoming Willowbrook stations, as well as proximity to park and rides, retail centres, and other transit exchanges. The other corridors that have been identified for BRT routes include Hastings Street, Lougheed Highway, Lynn ValleyDowntown/Lonsdale, Marine Drive Station-22nd Street Station, Richmond Centre-Metrotown, and Scott Road. Locations for the future stations were chosen based on ease of connection to other transit hubs such as Surrey Central, King George and the upcoming Willowbrook stations, as well as proximity to park and rides, retail centres, and other transit exchanges.
Bank converts Fiji branch to subsidiary
PAPUA New Guinea-headquartered BSP Financial Ltd has announced the conversion of its Fiji branch operations to a wholly- owned subsidiary, BSP Financial Group (Fiji) Pte Limited.
The change, which came into effect on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, will not affect the bank’s Fiji customers, according to a statement from the company.
“In line with recent global corporate financial structure trends and to gain operational efficiencies, BSP Group had resolved to convert to a subsidiary structure in Fiji,” BSP Group board chairman Robert Bradshaw said.
in its mission to advance financial inclusion and to offer exemplary customer service throughout Fiji,” Mr Bradshaw said.
“The vesting of BSP Bank’s Fiji business in a Fiji company affirms the BSP Group’s commitment to Fiji. “BSP Bank remains steadfast
The re-organisation was facilitated through the BSP Fiji Act 2024, which was enacted by Parliament on December 5, 2024 after what the bank said was an extensive stakeholder consultation.
Group chief executive officer Mark Robinson said this was the most preferred option to ensure minimum disruption for depositors, customers, employees and other stakeholders.
“The effects of the legislation are that from the vesting date of January 1, 2025, all BSP Bank’s interests in Fiji will vest in BSP Financial Group (Fiji) Pte Limited,” Mr Robinson said.
Biman hits back at Aiyaz
Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad has defended the $88,597 spent on the tribunal investigation into Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde.
Prof Prasad has described the criticism against government as hypocritical.
“Some of those critics have short memories,” Prof Prasad said. “They have actually forgotten what was there before we came into government.”
Prof Prasad specifically referenced the commission of inquiry into the former auditorgeneral during Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum’s tenure, questioning the whereabouts of that report.
He also brought up the dismissal of former solicitor-general Sharvada Sharma, suggesting that both events lacked the transparency now being demanded by the former A-G.
“He goes on his social media, jumps up and says the report should be released. But go and ask him: where is the report on the commission of inquiry into the auditor-general? Ask him about the sacking or removal of the former solicitorgeneral.” Prof Prasad noted the expenses incurred in the Pryde tribunal were part of ensuring a “proper, transparent process”.
He argued that the Government remained committed to openness, contrasting this with the alleged lack of accountability under the previous administration.
“Sometimes there is a cost that you have to incur for a proper, transparent process.
“And that was what happened. And the outcome is there for people to see.” “The guy who is totally irrelevant, the former attorney-general, is talking about the tribunal report when the President was still considering it, and the report was released in a timely manner.
Passenger passes away on Fiji Airways flight
Fiji Airways has confirmed a passenger on its flight from Nadi to San Francisco last week passed away on the plane.
The 59-year-old male collapsed during the flight, which was a few hours away from San Francisco, said the airline.
“Despite the immediate response from our Cabin Crew, including CPR and the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), the guest could not be revived,” said Fiji Airways.
“On behalf of Fiji Airways, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the guest’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
“We also wish to thank our other traveling guests for their patience, understanding, and cooperation under these tragic circumstances.”
Fiji Airways commended its crew for their swift and professional actions, ensuring that every possible measure was taken to assist the guest.
Tests sent to NZ for further analysis of Warwick
Resort guests' illness
The ingredients used in the cocktail consumed by the seven guests at Warwick Resort, along with their blood and urine samples, have been sent to New Zealand for further testing after initial tests found no evidence of illicit substances.
A government statement says these tests require specialised equipment that is not currently available in Fiji and the process may take up to three weeks to complete, with full results expected to become available afterwards.
It says the Fijian authorities must be given adequate time to continue their investigations to ensure the integrity of the process.
While acknowledging reports from affected guests requesting the release of
their individual test results, the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation says they are actively collaborating with relevant local authorities, including the Fiji Police Force and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, to determine the best and most efficient way to facilitate these requests.
They say once the test results are finalised, priority will be given to updating the affected tourists and their respective high commissions and embassies through diplomatic channels.
The Ministry says legal counsel will also be sought to determine what elements of the private data can be made public to ensure compliance with privacy laws.
Tourism Fiji has again this morning reiterated that Fiji crossed the one million mark in tourism arrivals in 2024.
This is despite the Fiji Bureau of Statistics (FBoS) yesterday stating Fiji’s annual visitor arrival for 2024 was 982,938.
In a press statement this morning, Tourism Fiji CEO, Brent Hill, said they are thrilled to have welcomed over a million visitors to Fiji via air and cruise.
Tourism Fiji said Fiji welcomed more than 982,938 tourists arriving via air and 81,854 passengers arriving by cruise ships. “But we are also focused on
ensuring that this growth remains sustainable,” he said. “Our priority is to attract tourists who not only appreciate our stunning landscapes and rich culture but also contribute to a high-yield tourism sector.”
“With strong partnerships, a growing airline and cruise industry, and exceptional performance in key international markets, we are confident that Fiji’s tourism industry is on a promising path for continued success in the years ahead.”
Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto to visit India as chief guest for 76th Republic Day
Delhi [India], January 16 (ANI):
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will pay a state visit to India on January 25-26, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During his visit, President Subianto will be the chief guest at India's 76th Republic Day celebrations.
This will be President Prabowo's first visit to India in his capacity as President, after assuming office in October 2024, according to a Ministry of External Affairs statement.
"India and Indonesia share warm and friendly ties spanning over millennia. As a Comprehensive Strategic Partner, Indonesia is an important pillar in India's Act East Policy and our vision of the Indo-Pacific," the statement added. The forthcoming State Visit of President Prabowo will provide an opportunity for the leaders to undertake a comprehensive review of bilateral ties as well as to discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest, said MEA.
The visit by the Indonesian leader will be significant as India and Indonesia are commemorating 75 years of diplomatic relations.
Balochistan sees 22 enforced disappearances, five extrajudicial killings in December 2024
Balochistan : The Baloch National Movement's (BNM) human rights division, Paank, has released a report revealing alarming human rights abuses in Balochistan during December 2024, as reported by the Balochistan Post.
The report documents 22 cases of enforced disappearances and five extrajudicial killings, attributing the majority of these violations to Pakistani military forces and intelligence agencies. The Balochistan Post reported that the disappearances were spread across six districts, with Kech bearing the brunt, accounting for 10 cases. Gwadar followed closely with six reported incidents, while Dera Bugti saw two, and Kharan and Hub each recorded one case. Paank also expressed concerns that the true number of disappearances may be higher, as many families are too fearful of retribution to report the abductions. The report pointed to a pervasive atmosphere of fear, with numerous individuals choosing silence over speaking out against the authorities, the Balochistan Post reported.
In addition to the disappearances, the report highlights five extrajudicial killings, which Paank attributes to Pakistani forces. Among the victims were Naveed Hameed and Zareef Umar, who were reportedly killed in Kech, while Abdul Hameed, Zakir, and Dil Jan lost their lives in drone strikes carried out in Panjgur. The killings, Paank argues, are part of a broader pattern of state-led violence in the region, the Balochistan Post reported. According to the Balochistan Post, the BNM's human rights department has urged the international community to take immediate action, describing the situation in Balochistan as a dire and ongoing human rights crisis. SOUTH
PTI presents 'charter of demands' in 3rd round of talks with Pakistan govt
Islamabad [Pakistan]: The Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) formally submitted its 'charter of demands' to the government on Thursday, marking the third round of negotiations between the two sides, Dawn reported.
Negotiations between the government and the PTI began in late December as an attempt to deescalate political tensions. However, significant progress has yet to be made on pivotal concerns, including the establishment of a judicial commission and the release of PTI members detained in political cases.
Talks have remained contentious, reflecting the deep divide between the two sides over these demands.
Thursday's meeting, held under the supervision of the National Assembly Speaker, brought together six representatives from the opposition, including three PTI leaders, and eight from the government. The opposition was represented by Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, PTI MNA Asad Qaiser, Sunni Ittehad Council chief Hamid Raza, Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen chief Senator Raja Nasir Abbas Jafri, and PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja.
Geneva: Baloch group highlights crisis of enforced disappearances at First World Congress
Geneva [Switzerland], January 16 (ANI): The Baloch National Movement (BNM) brought international attention to the issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan during the First World Congress on Enforced Disappearances. The two-day event held on January 15-16, provided a platform for discussions and collaborations aimed at addressing this grave human rights concern on a global scale.
The BNM, led by its Chairman, Naseem Baloch, participated in various sessions, engaging with international organisations, human rights advocates, and policymakers to shed light on the ongoing crisis in Balochistan. The delegation actively contributed to panels, discussions, and exhibitions designed to emphasise the need for accountability and justice for victims of enforced disappearances.
According to Faheem Baloch, Foreign Secretary of the BNM, the movement carried out a variety of activities to highlight the plight of Baloch people facing enforced disappearances.
"Today is the second day of the First World International Congress against enforced disappearances. And Baloch National Movement is participating with its delegation and highlighting the Baloch enforced disappearances issues at the World Congress. In this event, Baloch National Movement is doing different variety of activities. For example, under the Broken Chair, Baloch National Movement has got a tent where we are showcasing the cases of enforced disappearances, and along with that inside the hall, Baloch National Movement is also doing a photo exhibition where the photos of the enforced disappearances people are being shown," he explained.
New
Dense fog hits flight operations at Chandigarh airport
Dense fog and low visibility on Thursday morning affected the flight schedule at the Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Chandigarh.
One flight was cancelled, while three departures were delayed till 10 am.
The departure to Delhi (6:55 am) was cancelled while to Chennai (7:20 am), Mumbai (9 am) and Delhi (7:40 am) were delayed. The Delhi flight (7 am) arrival here touched down at 8:35 am. Meanwhile, temperatures plummeted across North India, with the people of Chandigarh and neighbouring regions woke up to light rain on Thursday. As thick fog engulfs Chandigarh, the minimum temperature is expected to reach eight degrees Celsius on Thursday, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which
has forecasted dense fog on Friday.
Also, the AQI in Chandigarh remains “poor” at 232 index value.
Finland university experts to train primary teachers in Punjab
Experts from the University of Turku, Finland, will now train government primary school teachers of the state.
To begin with, a group of experts from the European nation will hold a two-day orientation programme for near 300 primary school teachers, at Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Public Administration (MAGSIPA) here from January 21 and visit primary schools across the state.
Education Secretary KK Yadav said the first batch of 72 teachers was sent for threeweek training to Finland in primary school teaching techniques. Buoyed by the success of the visit, the department roped in experts from the University of Turku to train primary
This would help the trainers better understand the ground realities of education system prevailing in the primary schools and manner in which the teaching techniques could be realigned to suit the local needs.
The department has also tweaked the programme to train other batches in Finland.
“Now, experts from Finland would train the targeted batch for the first week in Punjab and the remaining training would be conducted in Finland. The training of the next batch has been planned for March.
The training of the first batch abroad had cost the state nearly Rs 2.5 crore. By partially training teachers in the state, some of the expenses would be saved,” said officials of the
Indian Navy joins 8 Indo-Pacific nations in La Perouse 25 Naval Exercise to strengthen maritime security
New Delhi: The Indian Navy, with destroyer INS Mumbai, along with eight other Indo-Pacific nations, has been deployed in the Malacca, Sunda and Lombok straits between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean on Thursday as part of the fifth edition of the multinational naval exercise La Perouse 25. The exercise, which began on January 16, will continue till January 24.
According to a press release, the exercise will be conducted by the French Carrier Strike Group (CSG), led by Charles De Gaulle aircraft carriers, as part of Mission Clemenceau 25. The Indo-Pacific nations
participating in this major exercise include Australia with the destroyer HMAS Hobart, Canada with the destroyer HMCS Ottawa, the US with the LCS USS Savannah, France with its French CSG, India with the destroyer INS Mumbai, Indonesia providing base support on land for the Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft of French CSG, Malaysia with the destroyer FFG Lekir and its embarked helicopter and the vessel Gagah Samudera, the UK with the offshore patrol vessel HMS Spey, and Singapore with the patrol vessel RSN Independence.
India, Singapore celebrate
60 years of diplomatic ties by unveiling special logo
New Delhi: India and Singapore marked six decades of diplomatic relations with a landmark event in the national capital, during which President Droupadi Murmu and Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam unveiled a special logo to commemorate the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.
The commemorative logo was designed to symbolise the enduring relationship between the two nations, featuring elements from both countries' national symbols. It incorporates the colours from the Indian and Singaporean flags, as well as the national flowers--the lotus of India and the orchid of Singapore. The number '60' in the logo highlights the important milestone in the two
countries' bilateral history. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) shared the news on X (formerly Twitter), with spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stating, "A new milestone in the India-Singapore partnership! President Droupadi Murmu and President Tharman Shanmugaratnam unveiled a joint logo to commemorate the 60th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between India & Singapore The joint logo incorporates colours from Indian & Singaporean National flags & National flowers, & elements that symbolise the enduring friendship, mutual trust & shared values between the two countries," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswl stated in a post on X.
Sunita Williams steps out on spacewalk after 7 months in orbit
One of NASA's two stuck astronauts got a much welcomed change of scenery on Thursday, stepping out on her first spacewalk since arriving at the International Space Station more than seven months ago. Indianorigin Sunita Williams, the station's commander, had to tackle some overdue outdoor repair work alongside NASA's Nick Hague. Plans called for Williams to float back out next week with Butch
Wilmore.
Williams and Wilmore launched aboard Boeing's new Starliner capsule last June on what should have been a weeklong test flight. But Starliner trouble dragged out their return, and NASA ordered the capsule to come back empty. Then SpaceX delayed the launch of their replacements, meaning the two won't be home until late March or early April—10 months after launching.
Why India is reaching out to the Taliban now
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The collapse also paved the way for greater influence from regional rivals, particularly Pakistan and China, eroding India's strategic foothold and raising new security concerns.
Yet, last week signalled a shift. India's top diplomat Vikram Misri met Taliban acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai - the highest level of engagement since Kabul's fall. The Taliban government expressed interest in strengthening political and economic ties with India, calling it a "significant regional and economic power".
Talks reportedly focused on expanding trade and leveraging Iran's Chabahar port, which India has been developing to bypass Pakistan's Karachi and Gwadar ports.
How significant is this meeting? Delhi has now given the Taliban leadership the de facto legitimacy it has sought from the international community since its return to power, Michael Kugelman of the Wilson Center, an American think-tank, told me.
"The fact that this treatment is coming from India - a nation that never previously had friendly
relations with the Taliban, makes this all the more significant, and also a diplomatic triumph for the Taliban," he says.
"India may hope that if it keeps the Taliban on side, so to speak, the Taliban will be less likely to undermine India or its interests. And that may be true. But at the end of the day, can you really trust an actor like the Taliban? That will be the unsettling question hovering over India as it continues to cautiously pursue this complex relationship."
Mr Prasad sees no downsides to India's current engagement with Afghanistan, despite concerns over the Taliban's treatment of women. "The Taliban is fully in control. Letting the Taliban stew in its own juice won't help Afghan people. Some engagement with the international community might pressurise the government to improve its behaviour."
"Remember, the Taliban is craving for recognition," says Mr Prasad. "They know that will only happen after internal reforms." Like bringing women back into public life and restoring their rights to education, work and political participation.
Congress opposes petitions against Places of Worship Act,
Contending that the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, was necessary to protect the secular nature of Indian society, the Congress on Thursday moved the Supreme Court to oppose the petitions challenging certain provisions of the law.
Enacted by Parliament during the PV Narasimha Rao government, the 1991 Act prohibits conversion of any place of worship,
12 Naxalites
except the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid at Ayodhya, and freezes the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947.
Delhi BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay has challenged the constitutional validity of the Act. Congress has joined other opposition political parties, including Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat and RJD MP Manoj Jha, in approaching the top court seeking implementation of the Act.
Emphasising the constitutional and societal significance of the Act, Congress expressed apprehensions that any alterations to it could jeopardise India’s communal harmony and secular fabric, threatening the sovereignty and integrity of the nation.
gunned down by security forces in
Twelve Naxalites were killed in a fierce encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Thursday, a senior police official said.
The gunfight broke out at around 9 am in a forest of south Bijapur when a joint team of security personnel was out an anti-Naxalite operation and the intermittent exchange of fire lasted till late in the evening, he said.
Personnel belonging to the state police's District Reserve Guard (DRG) from three districts, five battalions of CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action - an elite jungle warfare unit of
Chhattisgarh
the CRPF) and the 229th battalion of the CRPF were involved in the operation, he said.
Intruder entered room of Saif's son Jeh, demanded Rs 1 crore, caretaker says in FIR
The intruder who attacked Saif Ali Khan was first spotted by the nanny of his younger son Jeh, and he demanded Rs 1 crore, according to the statement given by the caretaker to the police, which forms the basis of the FIR. The attack took place outside Jeh's room around 2.30 am on
Rajasthan's Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) has arrested 26-year-old Sudha Kanwar, wife of gangster Amarjeet Vishnoi, an active member of the Rohit Godara and Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
Kanwar was apprehended on Wednesday in Trapani in Italy's Sicily with assistance from local police. She had fled India on a tourist visa with the help of her husband.
Kanwar is accused of threatening businessmen, firing at them, and being involved in the Raju Thehat murder case.
Additional Director General (ADG) Dinesh MN said the AGTF arrested Kanwar, a resident of Bichwal, Bikaner, with coordination from Interpol. Over the past year, M According to ADG Dinesh MN, Kanwar and her husband Vishnoi were part of a gang that extorted money from businessmen
Thursday.
The entire family - Khan, wife Kareena Kapoor, and their two sons -- four-year-old Jeh and eightyear-old Taimur - were home in the 12th floor apartment along with their five house helps. The intruder did not force his entry or break into the actor's flat but possibly sneaked in at some point during the night with the intention of robbery, police said. The attacker, who made his escape through the stairs, remains on the run.
Recounting the horrific events to the police, Jeh's nanny, Eliyama Philip, said she was sleeping on the floor in Jeh's room and woke up around 2 am when she heard a sound and saw a man move towards the sleeping child. Panicked, she rushed to pick him up and was pushed away by the man, armed with a wooden stick and a long hexa blade. Another nanny was also sleeping in the same room.
through threatening calls. If the demands were not met, the gang would resort to violence, including firing at the victims and their families.
The ADG said Vishnoi was instrumental in arranging illegal phone calls for Rohit Godara and other gang members. “He was arrested in Italy on July 8 last year following AGTF's efforts. Originally from Merta, Nagaur, Kanwar entered the world of crime after divorcing her first husband and marrying Vishnoi,” he said, adding that she actively supported her husband in his criminal activities.
“On December 3, 2022, Kanwar facilitated Manish alias Bachhiya, a shooter involved in the murder of gangster Raju Thehat by transferring money and providing weapons. She was arrested on February 5, 2023 and sent to judicial custody,” he said.
